The Elgin Street Mission in Sudbury is saying thank you to a lot of community supporters who stepped up during some of the rougher days of the pandemic when guests could not easily come to the mission dining room.

Mission chaplain Rev. Amanda Robichaud said she was pleased when the idea was put forward to have outdoor barbecue events so that needy people could still get their meals.

“It was a great way to serve our guests in a safe way after months of isolation. It was a hit, serving up to 250 people a night,” Robichaud said in a news release.

The generous Sudbury community came together, with the city providing picnic tables, Penokean Hills providing burgers, Regency Bakery providing buns, S.W.A.T media with a tent, and the Lougheed Foundation with funding, desserts, and now a brand-new barbecue grill, said Robichaud.

“This state-of-the-art barbecue will help us serve more guests in a more timely fashion. We are so thankful for the generosity of our community partners and appreciate their heart for our vulnerable population,” Robichaud said.